April 11, 2008

accessories for modern living

This is not quite a typical loud paper post, since I don't think I've ever written about jewelry design and only snark about fashion, but I wanted to call two designers to the fore.

First up: Kiosk sends word that Salvor Projects
is having a studio sale, beginning today. All I can say is that their
mathy, semi-architectural patterns and textures are amazing. I hope I
can crave out some time to make it to 28th Street.

Second: Mollie Dash. I met Mollie at the Brooklyn Flea,
the new flea market near my house. (Disclosure: I asked her to create a piece for me as a birthday present to myself, it will be ready on Sunday, I can't wait.) Each of her pieces is handmade and
original. She repurposes old costume jewelry, vintage beads, and chains
into sophisticated designs that are modern, with a little tarnished
glory.

Here's Mollie on what makes her work eco friendly:

I run my studio out of my home, where I practice daily
conscientious decision making on the amount of waste I produce and how
many resources I require to live. I discovered recently that
environmentalism is not about doing everything perfectly; it's about
doing what you can. How this translates into the products I make is
that they're made by a person who strives to leave a small footprint on
the earth.

In my work I use many discarded, thrifted, donated, and yard
sale-derived materials. I prefer metal over plastic. I like to pick
things up off the street. I use a minimum of new stones. I use cotton
and linen cord, rather than leather. I make things last.